For a surprise, it is not one…
We were expecting a favorable opinion from the inquiry commissioner regarding the alternate plan (daycare + coworking space) proposed by the Nice city hall to reclaim, for public use, the site currently housing the prayer room and associative activities of the En Nour association, but in the end, that was not the case.
On the contrary, the conclusions submitted are unfavorable and hinder Christian Estrosi’s objective.
From a legal-administrative viewpoint, the possibility remains for the Nice city hall to oppose the inquiry commissioner’s opinion, which opens the way for a decision by the Prefect, who, within a year, will decide either in favor or against the request for public utility declaration (DUP).
On this matter, during a press briefing, Christian Estrosi has already announced a formal opposition to the report’s conclusions, and the resolution will be adopted next Monday during the city council – a heads up to those passionate about intense debates: don’t miss it! – and he maintains all his administrative accusations (opaque funding, misconduct, and corporate and fiscal irregularities) against the En Nour association.
The mayor of Nice also reminded us that he had called upon the public prosecutor and the prefecture on this matter, asserting the presence of an individual marked S within the association’s administration (according to its statutes, it is both a religious and cultural association declaring over 1000 participants in its activities). Moreover, according to the mayor of Nice, this association allegedly spreads a radical version of Islam.
The lack of follow-up, as of today, from the concerned authorities suggests that these accusations have not been substantiated.
This story is nonetheless amusing, especially beyond the behavior of the mayor of Nice who has taken it as a personal case, even though political reasons are not absent.
It so happens that the first public inquiry had indeed resulted in a favorable opinion, but Prefect Colrat did not grant the public utility declaration; this time, it’s the inquiry commissioner who gives an unfavorable opinion when, at least according to rumors, Prefect Leclerc might be inclined towards authorizing the DUP.
But it’s not over, because Christian Estrosi loves the politics of… boiling water.
A little reminder: to avoid the easy accusation of preventing religious practice for the Muslim population, Christian Estrosi committed to allowing the construction of a large-scale place of worship (1000 m²) on the other side of the Mercantour Boulevard, in favor of the Fraternité association which suits him, as opposed to En Nour.
Awaiting realization, the project is complex, the completion time uncertain, the funding problematic (the lease would cover only the land), another mosque will be opened on the initiative of the municipality at 43 Route de Grenoble, but under the auspices of “approved” Muslims.
The market of “souls” is open: En Nour (The Light) on one side, La Fraternité on the other, the “rebellious” against the “amenable”, who will win the game? Which market share will each association manage to seize?
In fact, behind the appearances, what is at stake are the influences on Muslim worship communities originating from different countries, economic interests, political impacts, security aspects, small or not so small personal powers, sources of funding… the problem is not as straightforward as it seems and to navigate this labyrinth, one would need to be a good explorer.
In any case, Christian Estrosi has chosen his side, and it is that of the La Fraternité association through which he believes he can manage the issue of Muslim communalism and its potential drifts.
“An immediate temporary solution,” declared Christian Estrosi, who believes he has found a way to address one of the reasons raised by the inquiry commissioner in their conclusions: the “risk of impinging on the freedom of worship.”
Will creating a new prayer room be the ace that allows Prefect Leclerc to follow his predecessor’s example and, bypassing the report, sign the DUP declaration?
In any case, this case, first opened in 2011, is far from being closed. The saga will be rich in further episodes.
